Are you tired of your tiny and cramped living room? Decorating a small living room can be challenging especially when you have your eyes set on furniture pieces that would never fit in the space. Don’t fret. By employing these easy design tricks you can create a living room that is larger than life. Here are five ways you can make your living room feel much bigger than it actually is.

Oversized Mirrors
Using mirrors to visually expand a space is the oldest trick in the book. However, it actually works. Professional interior decorators use oversized mirrors in small rooms because they reflect light which makes the room appear bigger. A unique way to apply this theory is to select architectural mirrors which provide the illusion of a window or door.

Trim and Ceiling
When painting their living room, homeowners tend to leave the ceiling and trim white. Since these architectural features are just as important as the walls you should harmonize them with the rest of the space. You can use a lighter shade of a consistent hue that you’re using throughout a design scheme or the wall color on the ceiling. Apply a slightly darker shade on the trim.

Multifunctional Furniture
When decorating a tiny living room you should take advantage of multifunctional furniture. Consider purchasing a double duty coffee table that serves as both a table and extra seating. An upholstered storage ottoman can double as additional storage and seating.

Mount the Television
Instead of a television stand, mount the television on the wall to save space. You can put a decorative spin on this by surrounding the flat panel t.v with artwork.

Properly Fitted Rug
A custom cut rug that properly covers the living room floors is important for creating a unified look. Store bought ready-made rugs won’t always fit around the corners and dips in your living room’s layout.

Plan the layout
It’s important to plan out the traffic flow in your living room. Section off different areas of the living room according to their function. For instance, set aside zones for working, eating and lounging.

Remember the days when all you had to do was polish the floors and make sure the house was spotless before you put a For Sale sign on your property? Well, times have changed. These days homeowners are seeking out the help of professional home stagers to prepare their homes for sale. Home staging involves preparing your home for the real estate market by making it appealing to potential buyers. While this isn’t an entirely new concept, homeowners are taking advanced steps to ensure that their house looks it’s best before putting it on the market.

If your home has been sitting on the market for some time, or you’re getting way below the asking price that you set then you may want to consider employing some popular home staging techniques.

Importance of Home Staging
Just think of the home tours you’ve been on before you purchased your present home. How many times have you seen a house that probably has potential but you were so distracted by the clutter, tacky furniture and walls that needed to be repainted? No doubt, you were turned off by a house that was visually unappealing. Let’s be honest, potential home buyers are less likely to invest in a property that doesn’t look good.

Home staging is necessary because first impressions are everything. You want potential buyers to be able to visualize living your home. Therefore, you should make sure that they can see the beauty in your property by making sure it’s presented in the right way.

The First Rule of Home Staging
The first rule in home staging is to grab the attention of buyers at the curb. That means the exterior of your home should be in the best condition possible. It’s common to see buyers doing drive bys on properties that have been listed for sale. Making sure the outside of your home looks great is crucial because this is the first thing they’ll see and it also sets the tone for the home tour.

Here are some tips for making sure that the outside looks just as good as the inside:
– Wash down all the windows
– Make sure the lawn is free of bikes, toys and other clutter
– Mow the lawn and weed the garden
– Consider adding some potted plants to make the outside look beautiful

These are just a few ways to ensure that your home is giving the best possible first impression to potential home buyers!

Most of us enjoy the glamorous and luxurious appearance that gold evokes. It’s a color that catches the eye which why it’s no surprise that it has become trendy in home decor. Decorating with this metallic color can be challenging because if it’s not executed correctly it can look gaudy and unflattering. If you’re interested in adding some sparkle to your home, we’re going to show you how to decorate with gold.

Make A Statement
When working with gold materials you have the opportunity to create great interest because gold has such a big impact. So if you’re going to use gold in a room you want to be sure that you create your “wow” moment. Whether it’s gold wallpaper, a side table or a gold covered pillow you should make sure that it perks up the room.

Mix Metallics
To truly bring out the beauty of gold in your home’s decor you should try mixing it with other metallics like bronze, rose and champagne gold. Mixing metallics has become increasingly popular because it adds layers of dimensions to a room. When mixing metallics you should also mix up the finishes. Combine matte, glossy and brushed metallic pieces to create a versatile yet harmonious look.

Gold and Natural Materials
Pairing gold accessories with natural materials makes for a great balance. You can use organic touches like floral arrangements and wood materials to break up metallics. Mixing these elements will prevent your gold decor scheme from being too overpowering.

Gold and Bold Colors
Gold is also appealing with paired with other bold colors like purple and blue. You can use various tints of colors like yellow, purple and green. Using such variations softens the theme and adds a sense of depth to the overall design. If you want to further tone down the look incorporate more neutral tones.

Use In Moderation
As glitzy as the gold look you should avoid incorporating too many gold pieces in one space. Doing so will have the opposite effect and will be overwhelming. The sparkly specks in gold materials naturally catch the eye. So you don’t need to use several gold accents to make a statement.

You have thought about it for awhile and decided that down-sizing would be the best option for you. Down-sizing comes with a lot of ups and downs. The ups include purging and getting rid of unnecessary things and having a new place to love. The downs probably include everything else. We get it, down-sizing can have a negative connotation in your mind. But down-sizing does not need to be difficult nor a bad thing. To help you, we have made a list of five genius tips for down-sizing your home!

Down-sizing 101:

Go One by One. When you are beginning the down-sizing process, your mind may be going every direction. Try to focus on one room at a time to avoid confusion. First, you will want to make a game plan before you begin downsizing. Set a schedule and stick to it. Next, make sure everyone in your family is on the same page before you begin the process.

No Exceptions. Getting rid of things can be difficult, we totally understand. A way to ensure that you actually stay focused on downsizing is by only having a “yes” and “no” pile. Eliminate your “maybe” pile.

A Second Opinion. It may be a good idea to bring in a friend or family member to help you make challenging decisions. It can difficult to decide on what to keep and what to get rid of during the move; therefore, a second opinion can help.

Learn The Layout. Knowing the layout of your new home can be an important step for downsizing. It is a better idea to get rid of things before you move rather than take it all with you. If you know the layout, you can begin planning what furniture will fit and what you cannot take with you.

Make a Profit. One of the positives things about downsizing is that you can make some extra money off of the things you decide to sell. Whatever you cannot sell, try to donate to someone in need.

We hope you enjoyed these five easy tips for downsizing and that your new home is filled with amazing memories!

Natural stone is an expensive flooring product that undoubtedly requires special care. Perhaps the biggest challenge that homeowners face is determining whether they should seal their stone floors. According to flooring experts both stone and tile, products can benefit from sealing.

Just think. There are so many different elements that tend to cling to the surface and penetrate the grout on your flooring. From oil, water, dyes, and resins such materials can cause the quality of your flooring to disintegrate over time.

What Does Sealant Do

To best determine whether you should apply a Sealant over your floors it’s important to understand exactly what a sealant does. There are hundreds of products available on the market that have been created to both protect and enhance the beauty of floor products. Such products include waxes, finishes, color enhancers as well as sealers. Sealers work by tight sealing the surface of your floors against chemicals and other contaminants.

When should I apply the sealant to my floors?
A common misconception is that sealing stone flooring is the final step. However, the sealer should be applied before the finish. Most sealants aren’t vapored permeable which means that they are semi permanent.

Water based or solvent based sealant?
Yes, when shopping for an appropriate sealant you’ll find that you can select either a water it solvent based sealant. The type of product you choose is largely dependent on where your natural stone floors are installed. Water based sealers can’t be used in outside environments and aren’t really recommended for areas that attract a lot of moisture. Such sealants have a short protection span and are affected by exposure to the cold. Most solvent sealers allow for deeper penetration which means increased protection. Solvent Sealers are versatile and probably your safe option.

Impregnator Sealers

Impregnator also known as penetrating sealers don’t change the natural look if the stone. This type if sealant maybe maintains the quality of the finishing because scratches and scuffing don’t show up. Depending on the manufacturer and surface location you won’t have to seal your floor for as little as six months to ten years.

Home is where the art is. The truth is no home design is complete with quality art pieces. Many people are scared at the thought of curating artwork for their home. However, with some planning and a bit of creative flair, you can create a home that tastefully embraces the arts.

Create A Timeless Collection
When curating your home with beautiful artwork is important to think beyond what artists and pieces are trendy and hot right now. Instead, you want to build a timeless collection of artwork that resonates with you. Art is only a good investment if it can give you some daily inspiration and improve the overall mood of your living space.

Don’t Be Afraid to Experiment
Get out of your comfort zone and look for pieces that don’t just depict the average things. Try expanding to different styles such as Industrial or Scandinavian pieces. Your collection should add a little surprise to your space. Investing in your average, catalog pieces will create bland and “cookie cutter” look.

Collect Pieces That You Love
All too often, homeowners purchase artwork just to fill up space on their blank walls. However, you should only invest in artwork that you absolutely love. Also, you don’t have to stick to just one style. Mix up the genres and sizes. There are no rules to what kind of pieces you can combine in a space. The only thing that matter is curating a collection that you’re in love with.

Create A Showcase
Do you really want to make a statement with your art collection? Turn an average area like the hallways into a showcase. The hallway is a great area to create your own gallery. Avoid hanging large pieces because they are likely to fall in such narrow spaces. Hang series of small to medium prints to capture your guest’s attention. Select a bold piece to hang at the end of the hallway to add to the look.

Blend Family Pics with Prints
Of course, no space can truly feel like home without hanging up photos of your family or personal mementos. Create a unique experience by blending your original artwork with your favorite prints.

Quality Frames
Protect your pieces will quality frames that not only preserve your prints by also adds to the overall design scheme. Look online and at consignment shops for unique frames that feature intricate designs.

Are you in the process of designing a space? There’s no doubt, that you’ll have to focus on selecting a color scheme. Color schemes are a combination of colors that best complement each other. Anyone who’s ever decorated a room knows that picking out a color scheme can be challenging. Basic knowledge of palettes and where they are placed on the color wheel can be really helpful during this process.

If you seek to use colors to create different effects and feelings than you’ll need to know the four most common color schemes in the design world which include: Complementary, analogous, triadic and split complementary.

Complementary
Complementary color schemes sit on opposite ends of the color wheel. Some examples of complementary colors include: orange, green and red. These are known as opposing colors because they are drastically different from one another. Just imagine it. A room painted green with bright red accents with no doubt be bold. Even though complementary colors are different from each other when used correctly they will draw attention and add emphasis to a space.

Analogous
Analogous color combinations are soft on the eyes because they often utilize colors that are situated side by side on the color wheel. Many analogous color schemes simulate the type of colors that we see in the natural world everyday which can provide a serene effect. Yellow, yellow-green and hunter green are some examples of analogous colors. When using an analogous color scheme experts suggest using one color as the dominant color in the room.

Split Complementary Colors
A split complementary color scheme is very similar to the complementary color combo. When using this scheme in a space you’ll have to first select a base color and then use opposite palettes on the color wheel as accents to complement each other. The base color is what brings in the design and makes it less risky.

Triadic
A triadic color scheme will consist of three that are positioned evenly around the color wheel. Orange, green and violet are some examples of a triadic color scheme. A triadic color scheme is best pulled off by using a base color.

When designing the interior of a room you should never forget about the floors. According to the experts, the right flooring can bring both function and style to any space. Since flooring can make a very big impact, when shopping for flooring it’s essential to select a material that’s durable and stylish. After all, you want your home to be stylish for a lifetime.

These days there are increased innovative flooring solution. New flooring trends place emphasis on sustainable and natural materials. If you’re set on swapping out your flooring now is the time to do so.

Below are some of the top flooring trends this year.

Bamboo Flooring

Bamboo flooring has been around for several decades but it’s been becoming increasingly popular this year in a plethora of colors and styles. Traditionally, bamboo is much harder than hardwood especially when. It’s dried. However, new bamboo flooring products have been engineered to be straight woven making it twice as hard. Such bamboo flooring products have been manufactured in wide wooden planks that simulate the look of hardwood floors.

Reclaimed Hardwood

Reclaimed wood also known as antique wood has become popular because it adds character to space. Reclaimed wood is classic and gives off that hand hewn look. The best part about this manufactured style is that it saves you from having to pay the hefty cost of salvaged timber to create this look.

Luxury Vinyl

In recent years, vinyl has come a long way. Luxury vinyl has made its way to the forefront because it can actually simulate the appearance of popular and expensive flooring options. Luxury vinyl has been produced in many different colors and textures. Unlike other types of flooring, vinyl is softer to walk on and it can withstand spills and heavy traffic from pets and kids.

Cork

Cork flooring has expanded its color palette over the last few years. Cork had some amazing benefits. Cork serves a great insulator and it has great acoustic properties making it perfect for individuals that live in apartments or condos.

Before you make the finish decision it’s best to go and look at samples of trendy flooring options.

Whether you are moving or redecorating your home, upgrading the flooring is a perfect way to increase the value of your home. Keep in mind that upgrading your floors is always a good thing, but various flooring types increase the value more than others. Go ahead and start increasing the value of your largest investment, your home!

Here are some tips that will not only fit your budget, they will fit your design esthetic:

• Vinyl Flooring– Average cost $ 2.00 – $ 4.00 square foot. With new technology, vinyl floors are quite the rage now. With improved printing processes, vinyl really looks like hardwood and tile. Vinyl plank flooring is installed by the individual planks, just like hardwood. Consider luxury vinyl tile (LVT), it is durable with amazing style. Don’t forget, if you live in a high-end community and are planning on selling your home, buyers will want top of the line products like hardwood.

• Tile – Average cost $ 2.00 – $ 5.00 square foot. The toughest residential tile is color porcelain tile. If you have children and animals, tile is your best bet. It is water resistant and does not succumb to scratches. Tile is also beautiful and stylish. If you choose neutral colors like gray and beige, they will mesh beautifully with your decorating style and other flooring.

• Natural Stone – Average cost $ 3.00 – $ 9.00 square foot. Travertine, slate and other natural stones are stylish, durable and timeless. Not to mention, they are perfect for indoor and outdoor use. Natural stone is a product that blends well with other décor and flooring. It comes from the earth and has been around forever, and will continue to be popular!

• Hardwood Floors – Average cost $ 4.00 – $ 10.00 square foot. Home buyers will pay more for hardwoods, because they are beautiful and timeless. Harwood’s offer many species and styles, even though they scratch. You can choose from Oak, Pine, Maple, Brazilian Cherry, Hickory, and many more. Harwood’s are easy on your back and feet, compared to tile floors, plus they are easier to clean than carpet. Hardwoods are the “king” of floors!

Please let us know your plans for upgrading your floors, while boosting the current value of your home!